Nearly 200 storytellers, musicians, and African culture scholars will be in Wichita this week as part of the National Association of Black Storytellers Festival and Conference.
The organization was created to preserve and perpetuate African oral tradition and folklore. Local conference chair Melody McCray-Miller says people from across the U.S. will share stories that highlight the roles blacks have played in making history.
"It’s a foot-stomping, hand-clapping – you’ll be crying sometimes, crying tears of sorrow, but also tears of joy," McCray-Miller says. "You don’t know the depths of the expertise and the power that these storytellers can come with."
The storytellers will also present educational experiences in schools, libraries and other venues.
The Wichita Griots, a local storytelling group, will present a free pre-festival event on Wednesday night at the Wichita Marriott at 6 p.m.
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Carla Eckels is interim news director and the host of Soulsations. Follow her on Twitter @Eckels.
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